Scrap materials processor

ABSTRACT

A scrap materials processor is disclosed. The machine has a power driven feed mechanism. The rotary cutting head shears the scrap into small pieces. Pressure on the feed rolls may be manually increased or decreased as material is fed to the cutter head.

United States Patent 1 [111 3, 3 Moshofsky Sept. 10, 1974 1 SCRAP MATERIALS PROCESSOR 1,978,303 10/1934 Guett 83/436 x 1 lnvemon Mme Mosh/risky, 9019 5:131:23; Z1323 232$.3353113......:::::' ?22 15th, Portland, Oreg. 97219 [22] Filed: 1974 Primary Examiner-Willie G. Abercrombie MN 442,005 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Francis Swanson Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 279,238, Aug. 9, 1972,

abandoned. [5 7] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl 83/356.3, 83/436, 241/222 A Scrap materials processor is discosed The machine 51 11 1. Cl B26d 5/20, 826d 7/06 has a power dflven'feed mechanism The rotary cup [58] Flew of Search 83/3563 ting head shears the scrap into small pieces. Pressure 83/355; 198/127 209; 241/222 on the feed rolls may be manually increased or decreased as material is fed to the cutter head.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 1,213,192 l/l9l7 Heebner 241/222 SCRAP MATERIALS PROCESSOR This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 279,238 filed Aug. 9, l972, now abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the processing of scrap materials and more particularly to scrap cutting machines equipped with pinch roll feed mechanisms.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART A wide variety of methods are known for the processing of scrap materials and include machines equipped with feed mechanisms such as continuous chains, conveyor belts, rollers, and meshed gears. In feeders using rollers it is sometimes necessary to use top and bottom roll members to insure constant feed. The top roller exerts pressure against the bottom roll, squeezing the material between them in forcing the scrap into the cutter. The rolls often slip and serrations are often added to insure adequate traction. Scrap being fed to the machine is rarely uniform in thickness. To avoid jamming the top roll of the feed mechanism is usually spring loaded. Gear trains are sometimes used. One such example of the latter may be seen in US. Pat. No. 3,224,312. The drawback in present systems is that slippage in the feed train is excessive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of this invention is to provide in a materials scrap processor an improved feed mechanism which will adjust to a wide range of incoming material thickmesses with substantially no slippage in the feed roll mechanism. A further object of the invention is to provide a system which is optionally adjustable by the operator. Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of the machine as seen from its left side.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the machine as seen from its right side.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cutter head.

FIG. 4 is a schematic presentation of the feed rolls and associated drive sprocket and chain.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings, the scrap processor has a base frame with a bracket 12 mounted upon it. A feed throat 14 is attached to bracket 12. An upper roll 16 is attached to a pivotable arm 18 by a shaft 20. The pivotable arm 18 is attached to the bracket 12 with pin 22. The lower roll 24 is attached to bracket 12 with shaft 26. The rollers as shown are surfaced with an elastomer material 28 which has a large coefficient of friction. However, in appropriate applications the rolls may be smooth and uncovered, or serrations may be added if desired. An anvil 29 is mounted on bracket 12 and provides a shearing edge against which the cutters work. A pillow block 30 is mounted on frame 10 and provides bearing support for a shaft 31. The cutter wheel 32 is mounted on one end of the shaft. A large sheave 34 is mounted on the opposite end of the shaft 31. A second smaller sheave 36 is also mounted on the shaft. A large hopper 37 is mounted below the cutter wheel 32 and serves to direct the material being processed downward into a suitable container or, as

shown, onto a movable conveyor belt 38. An electric drive motor 40 is mounted on one side of the hopper 37. A vee belt 42 connects the drive motor 40 to the large sheave 34. A second vee belt is trained about smaller sheave 36 and also about an idler pulley 44 mounted on the hopper 37 with pillow block 45. Power is transmitted to the roll 16 and 24 by a chain 46 driven by a sprocket 48 mounted on shaft 47 of pillow block 45. Each roll, 16 and 24 has a sprocket 50 mounted upon it. The chain is entrained over upper roller 16 sprocket and contacts lower roll 24 sprocket on its inward side as shown in schematic FIG. 4, throughout a variable are on the sprocket of 3090 as arm 18 moves.

OPERATION Scrap is fed to the machine via throat l4. Feed rollers l6 and 24 pinch the material between them and force it into the cutter wheel 32 which shears the material into short chunks. These chunks are directed by hopper 37 to the conveyor 38. Motor 40 drives the large sheave 34 which in turn transmits driving force to the feed rollers 16 and 24 via belts 42, idler 44 and chain 46. Sprocket 48 is driven in a counter clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 4. The chain 46 will likewise move counter clockwise. This forces the rollers to pinch down on the incoming material. Increased pull on the materials being fed into the machine tend to increase the normal force on the rollers thereby increasing the pulling ability of the entire system. Because upper roll 16 is pivotally mounted on arm 18 sudden increases in thickness of incoming materials force the roll to move along arc A as indicated in FIG. 4. The chain 46 will tend to straighten out on the side which contacts the lower roll sprocket and thus maintain its driving contact throughout the limit of arc movement of upper roll 16. Since the pitch does not change this means that the roll feed system is non-slip up to the break away friction coefficient of the rolls. Lever 18 also provides a means for instant release of roll contact in the event of jamming. The operator may also exert greater force on the rolls to assist the feed of slippery materials merely by pressing downward on arm 18.

Having described the preferred embodiment of my invention it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims:

I claim: 1. A Scrap Materials Processor Comprising: a frame; a cutter wheel on said frame; primary driving means to drive the cutter wheel mounted on said frame; a lower roll mounted on said frame; an upper roll positioned above said lower roll operatively connected to an elongate arm having a handle and mounted on said frame, said arm being pivotable in a vertical plane whereby an operator may instantly decrease the downward pressure of said roll while said upper and lower roll are being driven; throat means for directing material to said rolls; secondary driving means for driving said upper and lower rolls, the inner surface of said secondary driving means containing said upper roll through substantially l of driving arc and the outer surface contacting said lower roll throughout any arctuate movement of said upper roll;

said secondary driving means pivotable through an are about a first point while said upper roll is simultaneously pivoted through an arc about a second separate point.

2. A Scrap Materials Processor comprising:

a frame;

a cutting wheel mounted on the frame;

a driving motor on the frame operatively connected to the cutter wheel;

first roll means mounted on the frame;-

second roll means positioned above the first roll means mounted on elongate arm having a position control handle and mounted on the frame. the arm being pivotable in a vertical plane by an operator the flexible chain remaining positively engaged at a constant pitch relative to the first and second roll means and pivotable through an are about a first pivot point while the second roll means and arm is simultaneously pivoted through an arc about a second pivot point separate from the pivot point of the flexible chain. 

1. A Scrap Materials Processor Comprising: a frame; a cutter wheel on said frame; primary driving means to drive the cutter wheel mounted on said frame; a lower roll mounted on said frame; an upper roll positioned above said lower roll operatively connected to an elongate arm having a handle and mounted on said frame, said arm being pivotable in a vertical plane whereby an operator may instantly decrease the downward pressure of said roll while said upper and lower roll are being driven; throat means for directing material to said rolls; secondary driving means for driving said upper and lower rolls, the inner surface of said secondary driving means containing said upper roll through substantially 180* of driving arc and the outer surface contacting said lower roll throughout any arctuate movement of said upper roll; said secondary driving means pivotable through an arc about a first point while said upper roll is simultaneously pivoted through an arc about a second separate point.
 2. A Scrap Materials Processor comprising: a frame; a cutting wheel mounted on the frame; a driving motor on the frame operatively connected to the cutter wheel; first roll means mounted on the frame; second roll means positioned above the first roll means mounted on elongate arm having a position control handle and mounted on the frame, the arm being pivotable in a vertical plane by an operator to instantly decrease the downward pressure of the second roll while the rolls are being driven; a single flexible chain entrained about an idler on the frame for simultaneously driving the first and seCond rolls, the idler including power transmitting means operatively connected to the cutter wheel; the flexible chain remaining positively engaged at a constant pitch relative to the first and second roll means and pivotable through an arc about a first pivot point while the second roll means and arm is simultaneously pivoted through an arc about a second pivot point separate from the pivot point of the flexible chain. 